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62d Congress, ) SENATE. j Report 
U Session. \ \ No. 549. 



EXHIBITION OF TROPHY FLAGS NOW IN STORE AT 
NAVAL ACADEMY. 



April 3, 1912. — Ordered to be printed. 



Mr. SwANsoN, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, submitted the 

following 

REPORT. 

[To accompany H. R. 15471.] 

The Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom was referred the bill 
(H. R. 15471) making appropriation for repair, preservation, and 
exhibition of the trophy flags now in store at the Naval Academy, 
Annapolis, Md., having considered the same, report thereon with a 
recommendation that it pass. 

The proposed bill appropriates $30,000, to be expended under the 
direction of the Secretary of the Navy, for the purpose of repair, 

Preservation, and exhibition of flags now stored at the United Stfites 
[aval Academy, Annapolis, Md., which have been taken in battle 
or after battle by the Naw of the United States. There are now 
deposited there *136 such "flags. These flags are trophies of the 
prowess and valor of the American Navy. One is the battle flag 
used as a signal for action by Commodore Perry at the Battle 
of Lake Erie; another of great historical value is an English royal 
standard, captured at York, Canada, April 27, 1813, by a squad- 
ron under Commander Isaac Chancey. Among these is the ensign 
of the Alert, taken in 1812 by Capt. David Porter. There is also 
among these the last flag flown by the Spanish squadron at the battle 
of Manila Bav, and also the flag of the Governor General of the 
Phihppine Islands, taken by Admiral Dewey in 1898. Among these 
is also the ensign hoisted in Japan by Commodore Perry in his inter- 
view with the Japanese commissioners at Uraga. 

These flags are of inestimable Mstorical value and no expense should 
be spared in order to preserve them. They are at present in a deplor- 
able condition, and unless properly taken care of will soon be destroyed. 
After careful examination and investigation by persons who are 
thoroughly acquainted with methods of such preservation, it has been 
estimated that by an expenditure of $30,000 these flags can be pre- 
served indefinitely. 



2 EXHIBITION OF TROPHY FLAGS. . ^ ^'^ ' 

The committee earnestly recommends the immediate passage of the 
bill by the Senate. 

There is filed with this report a list of the flags, which will show their 
great historical value and the necessity for their protection and preser- 
vation. There is also filed with tliis report a letter addressed to 
Senator Boies Penrose by Commander W. C. Cole, of the United 
States Navy, and a petition by the members of the Army and Navy 
Union of the United States of America. This letter and petition 
strongly present the value of these flags and the necessity for imme- 
diate action for their preservation and protection. The Secretary of 
the Navy recommends the passage of the bill, as shown by his letter 
of March 11, 1912, herewith filed. 



List of Flags now Stored in Pine Boxes in the Naval Academy at 

Annapolis, Md. 

No. 1 (No. 6). Ensign of the ''Cyane." — 16 by 30 feet; captured February 20, 1815, 
off Madeira by frigate Constitution, Capt. Charles Stewart commanding. (Flag badly 
moth-eaten.) 

No. 3. Ensign of the "Reindeer." — 10 feet 6 inches by 22 feet; captured June 28, 
1814, in latitude 48° 36^ N., longitude 11° 15^ W., by sloop of war Wasp, Capt. John- 
ston Blakely commanding. (Flag moth-eaten.) 

No. 4. Ensign of the "Guerriere." — 17 by 33 feet; captured August 19, 1812, in lati- 
tude 41° 42' N., longitude 55° 48' W., by frigate Constitution, Capt. Isaac Hull, com- 
manding. 

No. 5. Pennant of the "Guerriere." — 2 feet 6 inches by 47 feet. 

No. 7. Mexican ensign. — 2 feet 9 inches by 8 feet 5 inches; captured at Tuxpam, 
Mexico, April 18, 1847, by landing force of officers, seamen, and marines from the 
Gulf Squadron, led by Commodore M. C. Perry, in the Spitfire. 

No. 8. Ensign of the "Highflyer." — 5 feet 7 inches by 9 feet 6 inches; captured 
September 23, 1813, off New York, by the frigate President, Commodore John Rodgers 
commanding. 

No. 9. Admiral' s flag . — The flag used by Admiral Farragut on board the Tallapoosa, 
January, 1870, in charge of the naval obsequies of George Peabody, at Portland, Me. 
Looking up at this flag as a salute was fired at Portsmouth, N. H., in his honor, the 
admiral remarked, "It would be well if I died now in harness." This was his last 
official duty. He died shortly after, August 14, 1870. 

No. 10. Chinese flag. — A small painted flag on cotton cloth, slit through the middle, 
captured November 13, 1854, from a pirate battery at Coolan, island of Tylo (near 
Hongkong), by the crew of the Macedonian's pinnace, in charge of Acting Master 
John G. Sproston, which had been landed from the chartered steamer Queen, Lieut. 
G. H. Preble commanding, to make an attack upon the pirate settlement in concert 
with a force from vessels of the English fleet. 

No. 11. Korean flag. — 3 feet 2 inches by 2 feet 5 inches; captured by Thomas Woods 
(ordinary seaman), Colorado. This flag has two horizontal stripes, blue and white 
(cotton). 

No. 12. Perry's battle flag. — 8 feet 5 inches by 10 feet. A blue field with inscription 
through center in two lines of white letters, "Don't give up the ship," the last words 
of Oapt. James Lawrence, after whom the flagship was named. (Battle was fought 
on Lake Erie Sept. 10, IslS; signal for action givea by Commodore O. H. Perry.) 

No. 13. Ensign of the " Kearsarge." — This flag flew at the masthead of the U. S. S. 
Kearsarge during the engagement with the Confederate steamer Alabama, off Cher- 
bourg, France, June 19, 1864, Capt. John A. Winslow commanding. 
' No. 14. English royal standard. — 23 feet by 27 feet 5 inches; captured at York, 
Canada, April 27, 1813, when that place was taken by the squadron under Commodore 
Isaac Chauncey and a force of troops under Gen. Pike. 

No. 15. Ensign of the " Insurgente." — The Insurgente was a French frigate, captured 
February 9, 1799, off Nevis, West Indies, by the Constellation, Commodore Thomas 
Truxtun commanding. (Measurement 9 feet 2 inches by 9 feet 10 inches.) 

No. 16. Corean standard. — 12 feet 3 inches by 15 feet. This was the flag of the 
Corean Generalissimo, captured June 11, 1871, by Capt. McLane Tilton and Corpl. 
Brown, Marine Corps, of the Colorado, and Private Purvis, Marine Corps, of the Alaska. 

n m ^^ 







EXHIBITION OF TROPHY FLAGS. 



^^- No. 17. English ensign. — 4 feet 4 inches by 5 feet 5 inches, marked Avon; history 
tA unknown. 

v^ No. 18. Coreanflag. — Captured by John Shoemaker (seaman), CoZomrfo. Silk, very 
<V "^dilapidated. 

^ No. 19. United States ensign. — 2 feet 9 inches by 4 feet 6 inches; the first United 
^ States ensign hoisted in Japan. Used by Commodore Perry in his interview with 
c^- the Japanese commissioners at Uraga, Province of Sagami, near Yokohama, Julv 14. 
1853. 

No. 20. Mexican ensign. — 2 feet 4 inches by 5 feet 4 inches, marked San Juan; hisr 
tory unknown. 

No. 21. Ensign of the "Spitfire." — A United States flag used in the Gulf Squadron 
service during the War with Mexico (27 stars). 

No. 22. Ensign of the "Albemarle." — 6 feet 10 inches by 9 feet. Confederate flag 
captured October 27, 1864, by Lieut. W. B. Gushing with 13 officers and men from 
North Atlantic Squadron at Plymouth, N. C, from Confederate ironclad ram Albemarle. 
This flag has 13 white stars on blue cross on red field. 

No. 23. Ensign of the "Ellis." — This flag has three horizontal stripes, 2 red, 1 white, 
in center blue cantore with 12 white stars in upper staff corner. 

No. 24. Ensign of the "Confiance." — 12 feet 3 inches by 24 feet 6 inches, captured 
September 11, 1814, off Plattsbiu-g, by Commodore Thomas Macdonough. This flag 
has white fields with St. George's cross; ensign in upper left corner. 

No. 25. Ensign of the "Little Belt." — 7 feet 5 inches by 14 feet 8 inches; captujre.d 
September 10, 1813, by Commodore Perry, in engagement with English squadron on 
Lake Erie. This flag has a blue field with ensign in upper left corner. 

No. 26. Ensign of the " Java." — 5 feet 7 inches by 14 feet; captured December 29, 
1812, off the southeast coast of Brazil by the Constitution, Capt. William Bainbridge 
commanding. 

No. 27. Ensign of the "Penguin."— IZ feet by 24 feet; captured March 24, 1815, off 
Tristan D'Acunha by the Hornet, Capt. James Biddle commanding. (Wliite field, 
St. George's cross, ensign.) 

No. 28. Ensign of the " Chub." — 7 feet 10 inches by 17 feet; captured September 11, 
1814, off Plattsburg by American squadron. Commodore Thomas Macdonough com- 
manding. 

No. 29. Ensign of the "Estedio." — 4 feet by 20 feet 4 inches, an Algerine brig; cap- 
tured June 19, 1815, off Cape Palos, Mediterranean, by fleet under command of Com- 
modore Stephen Decatur. (Pennant.) 

No. 30. Ensign of the "Hunter." — 11 feet 2 inches by 19 feet 9 inches; captured 
September 10, 1813, by American squadron under Commodore Perry, on Lake Erie; 
red field. Ensign. 

No. 31. Ensign of the "Hunter." — 7 feet 6 inches by 13 feet 2 inches; taken at same 
time as above, No. 30. 

No. 32. Ensign of the "Atlanta."— % feet by 12 feet 9 inches; taken June 17, 1863, in 
Warsaw Sound, Ga., by the monitor Wcehaiuhen, Capt. John Rodgers commanding. 
(The Atlanta was a Confederate u-onclad ram.) 

No. 33. Ensign of the "Dominica." — Half of ensign; taken August 5, 1813, in lati- 
tude 23° 4^ N., longitude 67° W., by the privateer schooner Decatur, Capt. D. Diron, 
Charleston, S. C. 

No. 34. Korean flag. — 2 feet 5 inches by 3 feet; taken by John Antoski (seaman), 
Colorado, June 11, 1871. Cloth. 

No. 35. (2) Jacks of the " Truxton." — Blue bunting with white stars. 

No. 36. Ensign of the "Boxer." — 8 feet 10 inches by 17 feet 9 inches; taken Septenir 
ber 4, 1813, off Portland, Me., by the brig Enterprise, Lieut. William Burrows, com- 
manding. (This flag has red field.) 

No. 37. Ensign of the "Queen Charlotte." — 16 feet 4 inches by 28 feet 2 inches; taken 
September 10, 1813, on Lake Erie by the American squadron. Commodore 0. H. Perry, 
commanding. (St. George's cross.) 

No. 38. Ensign of the "Beresford" — 10 feet by 18 feet 5 inches; history unknown. 
(St. George's cross.) 

No. 39. Ensign of the "Linnet."— 12 feet by 24 feet; taken September 11, 1814, off 
Plattsburg, by the American squadron. Commodore Thomas McDonough, command- 
ing. (Blue field.) 

No._40. Pennant of "Chippeivay." — Taken on Lake Erie, September 10, 1813, by the 
American squadron, Commodore O. H. Perry, commanding. 

No. 42. Ensign of "Chippeway." — 6 feet 8 inches by 10 feet 9 inches; taken on Lake 
Erie, September 10, 1813, by the American squadron, Commodore O. H. Pen-y, com- 
manding. 



4 EXHIBITION OF TROPHY FLAGS. 

No. 43. Mexican ensign. — 7 feet 4 inches by 14 feet 2 inches; taken November 11, 
1847, at Mazatlan, by landing party from the Independence, Congress, Cyane, and Erie, 
Commodore W. B. Shubrick, commanding. This flag has three horizontal stripes, 
green, white, red. On white stripe, an eagle with snake in its beak is painted. 

No. 44. Corean banner. — 1 foot 1 inch by 6 feet 9 inches; taken in May, 1871, when 
Rear Admiral John Rodgers, with the Colorado and other vessels, accompanied the 
United States minister to China, who had been instructed to make a treaty with the 
Coreans for the protection of shipwrecked sailors. A conflict with the Coreans ensued, 
and many flags were taken. 

No. 45. Ensign of "Landrail." — 4 feet 6 inches by 11 feet; taken July 12, 1814, on 
the English Channel by the Syren, Capt. J. D. Daniels, out of Baltimore. (Privateer.) 

No. 46. Korean flag. — 3 feet 7 inches by 5 feet 10 inches; taken by Private Lynes, 
Marine Corps, Colorado. This flag is of brocade silk with dragon fly painted in center. 

No. 47. Confederate flag . — 10 feet by 18 feet 8 inches; taken off Wilmington from 
bl6ckade runner, 1863. 

No. 48. Colonial flag . — 4 feet 10 inches by 10 feet; pine tree flag No. 12. Facsimiles 
of the pine tree flags used during the Revolution. Presented by Rear Admiral 
Jenkins. 

No. 49. Colonial flag. — 4 feet 10 inches by 10 feet; pine tree flag No. 4. Duplicate 
of above. 

No. 50. Ensign of "Detroit." — 13 feet by 27 feet 5 inches; taken September 10, 
1-813, by the American squadron, Commodore O. H. Perry commanding (on Lake Erie). 

No. 51. Mexican ensign. — 9 by 19 feet; taken at Mazatlan, November 11, 1847, 
Commodore W. B. Shubrick commanding fleet. This flag has three perpendicular 
stripes — green, white, red — an eagle with rattlesnake in his beak painted on center 
stripe. 

No. 52. Pennant of "Detroit." — Taken with ensign. 

No. 53. Ensign of " Macedonian." — 9 feet 5 inches bv 19 feet 2 inches; taken October 
25, 1812, in latitude 29° N., longitude 29° 30' W .. by United States, Capt. Stephen 
Decature, commanding. 

No. 54. Ensign oj the "Frolic." — 10 feet 5 inches by 20 feet 10 inches; taken October 
1-8, 1812, in latitude 37° N., longitude 64° W., by the Wasp, Jacob Jones, master, 
commandant. 

No. 55. Ensigyi of the "Alert."- — 6 feet 8 inches by 13 feet 4 inches; taken August 
13, 1812, in the Nurth Atlantic by the Essex. Capt. Daxid Porter commanding. 

No. 56. Ensign of the "Bercean." — 9 feet 6 inches by 10 feet 8 inches; taken October 
12, 1800. in latitude 22° 50' N., longitude 51° W., by the Boston, Capt. George Little 
commanding. 

No. 57. Ensign of "Le Beraau."- — 6 feet 6 inches by 10 feet 9 inches; taken with 
flag above. These flags have three horizontal stripes — red. white, and blue. 

No. 58. Jack of the " Espervitr." — Silk, 7 feet 10 inches by 14 feet 8 inches; taken 
April 29, 1814, off Cape Canaveral by the Peacock, master commandant, Lewis War- 
rington . 

No. 59. Jacl- of the "Atlanta."— A feet 7 inches by 6 feet; taken June 17, 1863, in 
Warsaw Sound, Ga., by the monitor Weehmvken, Cajjt. John Rodgers commanding. 

No. 60. A blue flag ^\■ith red border, with white figures iji cejiter of flag, 6 feet 3 
inches by 8 feet. "814." (History unknown.) 

No. 61. Mexican guidon . — 2 feet 4 inches by 3 feet 2 inches, Mexican national ensign, 
silk lettered, E.'icuadron Activo de Vera Cruz, history unknown. (A. magnificent speci- 
men of silver bullion work.) 2 feet 5 inches by 2 feet 3 inches; dark green cloth with 
red fringe, lettered En. Ac. dc Jalapa. 

No. 62. Commodore's pennant. — 6 feet by 10 feet 6 inches, red field, with ]3 stars; 
swallow tail. 

No. 63. Ensign of " Peacock." — 10 feet 8 inches by 18 feet 9 inches; taken February 
24, 1813, off Demarara, by the Hornet, master commandant, James Lawrence. 

No. 64. Ensignof" Espervier." — 8 feet by 14 feet 10 inches; taken April 29, 1814, 
off Cape Canaveral by the Peacock, master commandant, Lewis Warrington. 

No. 65. Mexican e7isign. — 6 feet 8 inches by 22 feet; taken at Monterey, Cal., when 
that place was taken possession of by landing force under Capt. William Mervine. 

No. 66. Ensign of "Lady Prevost." — 12 feet 3 inches by 17 feet 5 inches; taken 
September 10, 1813, by the American squadron. Commodore O. H. Perry, command- 
ing. 

No. 67. Jack of the " Espervier."— A feet by 9 feet 8 inches; taken April 29, 1814, off 
Gape Carnaveral, by the Peacock, master commandant, Lewis Warrington. 

No. 68. Ensign of the " Mezoura." — 8 feet by 10 feet 9 inches; taken June 17, 1815, 
off Cape de Gata, Spain, by the Guierrere, Commodore S. Decatur, commanding. 

No. 69. United States ensign. — 6 feet 6 inches by 13 feet; flag used by garrison at 
San Jose. 



EXHIBITION OF TBOPHY FLAGS. 5 

No. 70. Ensign of the "Duke of Gloucester."— 6 feet by 11 feet G inches; taken April 
27, 1813, at York, Canada, by the squadron on Lake Ontario, Commodore Isaac Chaun- 
cey, and force of soldiers under Gens. Pike and Dearborn. ^ 

No. 71. Ensign of "St. Lawrence." — 5 feet 9 inches by 8 feet 6 inches; taken Feb- 
ruary 26, 1815, off Habana, by the Chasseur, Capt. T. Boule, out of Baltimore. (Pri- 
vateer.) 

No. 73. Pennant of "Lady Prevost."—f> feet by 26 feet. 

No. 74. A white burgee with black letters in center "Ondiaka"; 10 feet 4 inches by 
8 feet 8 inches. 

List of Flags Acquired by Admiral George Dewey in the War with Spain. 

No. 1. Ensign of Don Antonio de Ulloa; 6 feet 6 inches by 8 feet 9 inches. The last 
flag flown by the Spanish squadron at the Battle of Manila Bay, May 1, 1898. 

No. 2. Flag of Governor General of Philippines; 6 feet 4 inches by 8 feet 10 inches. 

No. 3. Rear Admiral Montojo's flag; 4 feet 10 inches by 7 feet. 

No. 4. Flag taken by U. S. S. Charleston at Guam, Lad rone Islands. 

No. 5. Flag taken by U. S. S. Charleston; 3 feet 2 inches by 4 feet 3 inches. 

No. 6. Flag taken by U. S. S. Charleston; 6 feet by 11 feet 10 inches. 

No. 7. Silk flag taken by U. S. S. Charleston; 4 feet 2 inches by 5 feet 3 inches. 

No. 8. Captain's pennant from Spanish cruiser Don Juan de Austria; 8 inches by 
38 inches (a choice sample). 

No. 9. Ensign from Cavite Arsenal; 6 feet 2 inches by 9 feet 4 inches. 

No. 10. Ensign from Cavite Arsenal; 6 feet 5 inches by 8 feet 2 inches. 

No. 11. Ensign from arsenal; 8 feet by 11 feet 4 inches. 

No. 12. Ensign flown at main of Spanish cruiser Don Antonio de Ulloa during battle 
of May 1, 1898; 5 feet 6 inches by 6 feet 7 inches. 

No. 13. Ensign from arsenal; 6 feet 2 inches by 10 feet 1 inch. 

No. 14. Pennant of captain commanding Dura. 

No. 15. Ensign taken from arsenal; 7 feet 3 inches by 10 feet. 

No. 16. Ensign taken from arsenal; 3 feet 2 inches by 4 feet 4 inches. 

No. 17. Ensign taken from arsenal; 4 feet 6 inches by 4 feet 6 inches. 

No. 18. Pennant of chief of division; 4 feet 3 inches by 5 feet 8 inches. 

No. 19. Boat flag; 3 feet 2 inches by 4 feet 9 inches. 

No. 20. Merchant flag; 3 feet 10 inches by 7 feet 2 inches; red and yellow horizontal 

r tripes. 
No. 21. Ensign from arsenal; 8 feet by 11 feet 6 inches. 
No. 22. Ensign from arsenal; 8 by 13 feet. 
No. 23. Ensign from arsenal; 7 feet by 10 feet 9 inches. 
No. 24. Rear Admiral Montojo's flag; 7 feet 2 inches by 7 feet 8 inches. 
No. 25. General of brigade; 4 feet 6 inches by 5 feet 10 inches. (Swallow-tail 
guidon.) 
No. 26. Pennant of division commander; 4 feet by 8 feet 6 inches. 
No. 27. Flag of insurgent Filipinos taken at Fort Iloilo by party from U. S. S. 
Boston a.nd Petrel, Lieut. A. P. Niblack, United States Navy, commanding; February 
11, 1899. 




Note.— This flag was not numbered in catalogue. I have taken liberty of placing it No. 27. 



No. 28. Flag of Governor General; 2 feet 8 inches by 4 feet 5 inches. 

No. 29. Flag of Governor General; 4 feet 2 inches by 6 feet 2 inches. 

No. 30. Official flag of Manila, hauled down August 19, 1888, by Flag Lieut. Brumby 
and Signal Boys Stanton and Ferguson, from flagship Olympia; 12 feet 10 inches by 
17 feet. (Not numbered in set.) 

No. 31. Rear Admiral Montojo's flag; 6 feet by 6 feet 7 inches. 

No. 32. Senior officers' pennant; 2 feet 10 inches by 5 feet 2 inches. 

No. 33. Two captains' pennants. 



() EXHIBITION OF TROPHY FLAGS. 

No. 34. Flag of captain general; 5 feet 5 inches by 12 feet 10 inches." (Swallowtail 
guidon.) 



Jo.^5. Unfinished boat flag; 3 feet by 3 feet 10 inches. 



No ^6. Ensign from arsenal ; 5 feet 4 inches by 5 feet 4 inches. 

No. 37. Flag of Governor General; 4 feet 2 inches by 6 feet 2 inches. (Two stars.) 

No. 38. Unfinished ensign; 7 feet 7 inches by 12 feet. 

No. 39. Ensign; 2 feet 7 inches by 3 feet 10 inches. 

No. 40. Ensign taken from arsenal; 2 feet 9 inches by 4 feet 2 inches. 

No. 41. Ensign taken from arsenal; 13 feet 5 inches by 20 feet 10 inches. 

No. 42. Ensign taken from arsenal; 6 feet 8 inches by 8 feet 9 inches. 

No. 43. Flag of captain general; 7 feet 4 inches by 8 feet 10 inches. 

No. 44. Ensign taken from arsenal; 4 feet 9 inches by 5 feet 9 inches. 

No. 45. Flag from Spanish armed steamer Santo Domingo, taken July 12, 1898, by 
the Eagle; 9 feet 3 inches by 17 feet 9 inches. (No number on flag.) 

No. 46. Flag taken from Spanish torpedo destroyer Furor after the battle; 5 feet 5 
inches by 9 feet 8 inches. 

No. 48. Ensign taken from arsenal; 7 feet 6 inches by 10 feet 3 inches. 

No. 49. The first Spanish flag hauled down in Porto Rico, July 25, 1898. 

No. 50. Admiral Cervera's flag; 7 feet 7 inches by 8 feet. 

No. 51. Bandera de Popa; 3 feet by 4 feet 8 inches. 

No. 52. Flag of Spanish armed transport Cebu taken at Manila, August. 

No. 53. Spanish flag from Cristobal Colon taken July 3, 1898; 14 feet by 19 feet 5 
inches. (A most beautiful handmade flag.) 

No. 54. Flag found in water near stern of Cristobal Colon; 21 feet 4 inches by 27 feet. 

(Fifty-three flags, pennants, etc., in this set.) 

List of Unnumbered Flags. 

Commodore's pennant; 5 feet 8 inches by 10 feet. White field with blue stars (13) 
swallowtail. 

Spanish jack taken from gunboat Jorge Juan, sunk in Nipe Bay, Cuba, July 21, 1898; 
7 feet by 7 feet 8 inches. 

Small Spanish ensign marked "R. H." in dark letters; 3 feet 4 inches by 4 feet 10 
inches. 

Spanish ensign; 8 feet 8 inches by 13 feet 3 inches. 

Flag of the Saginaw; 4 feet by 7 feet 3 inches. United States flag with 13 stars. 

Flag of the Vandalia; 15 by 28; March 16, 1889. United States flag, 45 stars. 

Pennant of the Freeborn, first pennant on the Potomac; 11 feet 6 inches._ 

A black silk Chinese flag with red design in center; 10 feet by 11 feet 2 inches. 

(Seventy-nine flags, pennants, etc., in this set.) 



United States Nav,\l Academy, 

Annapolis, Md., December 19, 1911. 
Senator Boies Penrose, 

Naval Committee, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. 

My Dear Senator: I learn by the papers, and have also been informed by 
National Commander George Russell Downs, of the Army and Navy Union, that you 
have introduced a bill for an appropriation of money to permit the repair, preserva- 
tion, and preparation for exhibit of the remarkable trophy flags we have here at the 
academy, and I take the liberty to write this letter to express my thanks for your 
assistance in this matter. 

(2) It was not realized until last spring that the repair, preservation, and prepara- 
tion for exhibit of these flags would be so expensive. The Naval Academy authori- 
ties appeared before the Naval Committee last winter and requested |3,000 for the 
completion of the current work under the care of the committee on memorials and 
exhibits, and while it was not specifically stated that the amount of money requested 
for this purpose before the committee would be sufficient to complete the work, it 
was in a degree understood that this was the case. About the 1st of March, 1911,_ I 
began inquiries into the question of the best method of doing the work of repair, 
preservation, and preparation for exhibit of old flags, and commenced a general corre- 
spondence which included the Smithsonian Institution, the custodian of the flags in 
the statehouse, Boston, Mass., and other people. There was also found some corre- 
spondence in the files of the Naval Academy concerning the preservation of flags. 
The correspondence ultimately narrowed down to the governor of Massachusetts, 



EXHIBITION OF TROPHY FLAGS. 7 

and principally with ex-Gov. Curtis Guild, who seemed to have taken a most active 
interest in the question of flag preservation. He referred me to a woman who had 
had charge of the preservation and exhibition of the flags which they have now in 
the Massachusetts statehouse. I then began correspondence with Mrs. Amelia 
Fowler, whom I found to be a remarkable character, of gentle birth and breeding, 
who took this work up originally as a pastime and later as a profession. 

(3) About the 1st of May I succeeded in making arrangements with Mrs. Fowler 
to come down here to make an inventory of the flags and to make an estimate of 
material, labor, and time for the preservation and exhibition of them. 

(4) The flags were packed in wooden boxes in as good shape as possible, i. e., in 
camphor balls and newspapers, and the boxes were as near air tight as practicable, 
though not tin or lead lined. No doubt this would have been done had the money 
been available at the time. They were packed in 1900. This date I took from the 
date of the newspapers used in packing. There is no other record of the date. On 
opening the boxes the flags were found to be in a most deplorable condition, moth- 
eaten until some of them were in tatters. In the handling of these flags Mrs. Fowler 
showed that she knew her business, and I have obtained a careful inventory showing 
the condition of each flag, and they are now repacked in the cases. 

(5) Nearly 1,000 years ago the wife of the Duke of Normandy made some tapestries, 
which tapestries are known to-day as Bayeux tapestries. They have been constantly 
under exhibit and have been transported to various art exhibitions at different times. 
They are made of fine linen, and everything in connection with them is of linen or 
silk. After studying the situation down here, Mrs. Fowler proposes to back these 
flags with this very fine weave linen, which she says she can obtain from a particular 
factory in Ireland. The flags will be sewn on the linen with silk by expert needle- 
women, with small stitches that will not be visible at the distance an observer will 
stand in viewing them when in the exhibition cases. In one case, that of the royal 
standard, the material is heavy enough to require additional support on fine wire 
mesh made of rustless material. 

(6) The summation of the surface of these flags amounts to about 1,200 yards; Mrs. 
Fowler estimates that the material for this work will cost $1,500, and that it will require 
100 needlewomen, working 200 days, to accomplish the work. This will bring the 
labor cost to $26,000, assuming that we can obtain efficient needlewomen for the 
purpose at .|1.28 per diem. 

(7) Because of the fact, as I stated above, that, though it was not specifically so 
stated, it was more or less understood before the House Committee on Naval Affairs 
that the $3,000 appropriated in the last naval appropriation bill was sufficient to com- 
plete the work under "Memorials and exhibits," I did not believe it proper for me to 
expend any of this money until the whole question could again be laid before the 
committee. In this decision the Superintendent of the Naval Academy (at that time 
Capt. Bowyer) agreed. On the face of it, to the casual observer, the money requested 
is a large sum to expend for the repair, preservation, and preparation for exhibit of 
1,200 square yards of old flags, but I think when you examine the photographs of a 
few of the flags which I inclose you will be able to form an idea of the immensely slow 
and tedious character of the labor involved. 

(8) I took occasion last June during the presence here at the Naval Academy^ of 
the Board of Visitors, to lay the question of the repair, preservation, and preparation 
for exhibit of these trophy flags before them. They all agreed in their approbation 
of the project, and made a favorable recommendation in their report to the President. 
It was recognized, however, that before such an appropriation would be favorably 
reported to the Houses of Congress by the Committee on Naval Affairs there must be, 
in all justice to the members of the committees, and to Congress in general, an awaken- 
ing of public opinion in its favor sufficient to justify the appropriation. The question 
was first taken up by me in the routine of official business, in my work as the officer in 
charge of buildings and grounds, and also as the senior member of the committee on 
memorials and exhibits, but a view of these wonderful trophies would not permit me 
to let my tour of duty here at the Naval Academy pass without the strongest effort to 
have the work begun on these flags before the ravages of time have completed their 
destruction. Merely official efforts were almost certain to be unsuccessful, and I made 
up my mind to attempt the work as an individual, and not in an official capacity. To 
this end I obtained the permission of the Secretary of the Navy to address such 
patriotic societies as I could, as well as to obtain as widespread publication as possible 
of stories covering the question. This I have done and I may say that the more I have 
gone into this work the more obsessed I am by it. To permit these flags to pass beyond 
the possibility of restoration would be an incalculable loss to the Nation. 



8 EXHIBITION OF TROPHY FLAGS. 

(9) I have written to the following patriotic societies: 
■*Society of the Cincinnati. 

*Aztec Club of 1847. 

Sons of Veterans, United States. 

Naval and Military Order, Spanish-American War. 
*United Spanish War Veterans. 

Union Veteran Legion. 

Descendants of the Signers. 

Military Order of Foreign Wars. 
*Order of the Founders and Patriots of America. 

American Flag Association. 
^Military Order of the Loyal Legion. 
*Naval Order of the United States. 
*Army and Navy Union. 
*Navy League of the United States. 
*Patriotic Sons of America. 
*National Association of Naval Veterans. 
*Sons of the American Revolution. 
*Sons of the Revolution. 
*Daughters of the Revolution. 
*Daughters of the American Revolution. 
*General Society of the War of 1812. 

Veteran Corps of Artillery of the State of New York, being the Military Society 
of the War of 1812. 
Those marked with an asterisk are the societies from whom favorable replies have 
been received, and from whom it is quite possible you may have already received 
communications . 

(10) National Commander George Russell Downs, of the Army and Navy Union, 
has been most active in his efforts, and I learn from Gen. Horace Porter of the begin- 
ning of active efforts on the part of the Navy League, who are to send out stories on 
the subject through the Associated Press, Sun Press Association, and the Hearst 
Press Association, and I believe publication is to be made on Sunday, December 24, 
1911. The other patriotic societies expect to send out information on the question 
to the various subdivisions throughout the country, and it is hoped that resolutions 
favorable to the question will be passed by these subdivisions, and that copies of these 
favorable resolutions will be sent to the representative in the district in which the 
subdivisions are located. 

(11) This course will, I hope, show the Members of Congress that there is sufficient 
public opinion favorable to the appropriation of the money to justify them to favoi'- 
ably consider the bill when it is introduced on the floors of the Houses. Personally, 
I shall be glad to appear before the committees having the bill under consideration 
at any time they may desire, and I am also confident if a favorable indorsement of the 
Navy Department on this question is requested it will be forthcoming. 

(12) Again thanking you for your efforts and trusting the question may be given 
an early consideration, I am, 

Yours, very truly, W. C. Cole, 

Commander, United States Navy, 
Senior Member of Committee on Memorials and Exhibits. 

o 



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